This, unquestionably - so has there been heard by me - was so stated by the Lord, was stated by the worthy Arahant:

"There exists indeed, monks, that which is unborn, is unbecome, is uncreated, that which is uncaused and unconditioned… For if there were not that which is unborn, is unbecome, is uncreated, that which is uncaused and unconditioned,there could not be made known right here the absolute escape from that which is born, from that which is become, from that which is created, from that which is conditioned. However since there indeed exists that sublime state, which is unborn, which is unbecome, which is uncreated, and utterly unconditioned,there is therefore right now made known the complete escape from that, which is born, from that, which is become, from that, which is created, from all that, which is dependent and conditioned."

So said the Lord Buddha while adding:"That which is born, that which is become, that which is co-arisen,that which is conditioned, that which is created, that which is unstable,that which is the bridge between birth and death, this seat of disease, with nutriment as its source, is only perishable… It is nothing in which to rejoice!The escape from this is stilled calm, beyond the sphere of logic, being that which is stable sameness, that which is unborn, that which is independent, not co-arisen, grief-free, dustless, this state is the ceasing of conditions involving suffering,it is the pacification of all formation! It is Peace. It is the highest Bliss…"

This matter, too, was stated by the Lord Buddha, so has there been heard by me.

The Blessed Buddha once said:Here, Ananda, the Bhikkhu considers it all like this: This is the supreme peace, this is sublime calm: The stilling of all formations, the silencing of all mental construction, the relinquishing of all substrata fuelling existence, the fading away of all craving, detachment, release, ceasing, Nibbana...In this way, Ananda, the Bhikkhu may enter a mental absorption in which there is no notion of 'I' and 'mine', no attacks of conceiving any internal consciousness or any external objects and wherein he is both mentally released and fully liberated through understanding this all...In this silenced and wholly stilled state there is no inclination to "I" and "mine-making", and no more attacks of conceit by latent tendencies to identification, egotism, and narcissism!Anguttara Nikaya AN 3:32

Knowing both what the inner is and the outer is,one is neither stirred, nor troubled any more!When thus stilled and imperturbable, there isneither any attraction, nor any repulsion...One has crossed and escaped ageing and death!!!Sutta Nipata 1048

Life, personality, pleasure, pain, endures joined in one conscious moment,that flicks by... Whether such ceased clusters of clinging are those of adead or alive does not matter, they are all alike, momentarily gone never to return... No world is born and appears as manifest, if consciousness is not produced! Only when consciousness is present, does the world emerge!When consciousness momentarily dissolves, the world is dead and vanished!So both the being & the world starts and ends within each conscious moment!Both are reborn millions of times per second! Not only at conventional death.. This is how death also should be recollected, as the shortness of the moment.This is the highest sense this concept of conscious existence ever will allow...(Vism I 238, Nd I 42)

Once in Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this: What, householder friends, is the Dhamma explanation befitting to oneself? Here, householder friends, a Noble Disciple reflects thus: If someone were to take from me, what I have not given, that is, to commit theft, to steal, that would neither be pleasing, nor agreeable to me.If I were to take from whatever kind of another being, what he has not freely given, that is also to commit theft, to steal, that would neither be pleasing, nor agreeable to that other being either.... What is displeasing and disagreeable to me, is thus also displeasing and disagreeable to any other being too! How can I inflict upon another being, what is displeasing and disagreeable to myself? Having reflected repeatedly thus, then gradually:1: One will carefully avoid all taking, what is not freely given...2: One will persuade others also to abstain from all stealing and theft...3: One will praise only accepting, what is freely and righteously given... In exactly this way is this good bodily behaviour purified in 3 respects!!!

DO NOT MAKE OTHERS SUFFER BY STEALING WHAT THEY CLING TO!The one who destroys life;The one who speaks false;The one who takes what is not given;The one who mates with the partner of another;The one who is addicted to drinking and drugging;Such one - even in this world - digs up his own root!!!Dhammapada 246-47

The one who never takes, what is not freely given,whether long or short, fine or foul, exquisiteor repulsive, such one is a pure one. Dhammapada 409

Once in Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this: How, Ananda, is this fineconcentration by Awareness by Breathing (Anapanasati) developed and cultivated so that it fulfils the Four Foundations of Awareness (Sati) ?

Whenever, Ananda, a Bhikkhu: 1: Breathing long, knows, notes & understands: I breathe in & out long!2: Breathing short, knows, notes & understands: I breathe in & out short! 3: Trains thus: Experiencing this entire body, I will breathe in & out! 4: Trains thus: Calming all bodily activity, I will breathe in & out!On that occasion the Bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body as a group,keen, clearly comprehending, and aware, thereby removing all desire andfrustration rooted in this world! This is a certain kind of body, Ananda, a kind of accumulation, just this breathing in and breathing out in itself...

Whenever, Ananda, a Bhikkhu: 5: Trains thus: Experiencing enraptured joy, I will breathe in & out!6: Trains thus: Experiencing a happy pleasure, I will breathe in & out!7: Trains thus: Experiencing all mental activity, I will breathe in & out!8: Trains thus: Calming all mental activity, I will breathe in & out!On that occasion the Bhikkhu dwells contemplating feeling as a reaction,keen, clearly comprehending, & aware, thereby removing all desire andfrustration rooted in this world! For what reason? Close attention tobreathing in & breathing out is also a certain kind of feeling, Ananda...Whenever, Ananda, a Bhikkhu: : 9: Trains thus: Experiencing the present mood, I will breathe in & out! 10: Trains thus: Elating, & satisfying the mind, I will breathe in & out!11: Trains thus: Concentrating, & focusing mind, I will breathe in & out!12: Trains thus: Releasing, & liberating the mind, I will breathe in & out!On that occasion the Bhikkhu dwells contemplating mind only as moods,keen, clearly comprehending, & aware, thereby removing all desire andfrustration rooted in this world! I tell you, Ananda, there is no gainingconcentration by awareness by breathing for one, who is confused, and who lacks clear comprehension of the actually present mentality & mood!

Whenever, Ananda, a Bhikkhu: 13: Trains thus: Contemplating impermanence, I will breathe in & out!14: Trains thus: Contemplating disillusion, I will breathe in & out! 15: Trains thus: Contemplating ceasing, I will breathe in & out!16: Trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in & out!On that occasion the Bhikkhu dwells contemplating all phenomena as mental states, keen, clearly comprehending, & aware, thereby removing all desire and frustration rooted in this world! Having by understandingseen what really is the elimination of greed and discontent, he is one who just looks on, over-viewing carefully in imperturbable equanimity... It is, Ananda, when Awareness by Breathing is trained, developed and refined in this very way, that it fulfills the 4 Foundations of Awareness...These 16 steps should be memorized fully. Print out & bring to pillow!

The blessed Buddha once explained:Bhikkhus, the concentration gained by Awareness by Breathing, when trained, is of great fruit and advantage. And how, Bhikkhus, is this concentration by Awareness by Breathing developed and cultivated so that it is of great fruit and advantage? Bhikkhus, when one have gone to the forest, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, there one sits down cross-legged, having made one's body and back straight, and set up awareness around the nostrils, then just plain aware of that breathing in itself one breathes in, and just solely aware of only that breathing in itself one breathes out...1: Breathing in long, one knows, notes and understands: I inhale long!Breathing out long, one knows, notes and understands: I exhale long! ... ... ... (steps 2-15)One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in!One trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out!Therefore, Bhikkhus, if a friend wishes: May I become secluded from all sense desires, protected from any detrimental mental state, and thereby enter and dwell in the 1st jhana, which is directed thought and sustained thinking joined with Joy and pleasure born of solitude, then this very same concentration by Awareness by Breathing should be cultivated often & devoted much attention! Furthermore if such friend should wish: By the stilling & fading of all directed and sustained thought, may I enter & dwell in the 2nd jhana, which is a calmed assurance fixed by solid mental unification and joined with Joy & pleasure now born of a concentration devoid of any active thinking, then this same method: Awareness by Breathing should be trained often & devoted sincere attention! Even further; if one should wish: With the fading away of joy, may I dwell in composed equanimity, just open, aware and clearly comprehending, still feeling pleasure in this body, by entering upon and remaining in the 3rd jhana, about which the Noble Ones declare: "In aware Equanimity one dwells in pleasure!",then this very same exercise: Awareness by Breathing should be developedregularly and dedicated much earnest consideration! Finally if one should wish: With the leaving all behind of both pleasure and pain, even as with the prior disappearance of both Joy and sorrow, may I enter and dwell in the 4th jhana, which is an entirely silenced state of utter awareness, purified by Equanimity of neither-pain-nor-pleasure, then this same praxis: Awareness by Breathing should be repeated daily & thus made a primary priority due to its importance!

Once when Venerable Girimananda was sick, the Buddha said to Ven. Ananda.What is the experience of acute Awareness by in-&-out Breathing?It is when a Bhikkhu, who have gone to the forest, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, sits down cross-legged, having straightened his body and back, and set up awareness around the nostrils, then just plain aware of only that itself, he breathes in, and then just solely aware of only that breathing in itself, he then breathes out...1: Breathing in-&-out long, he knows, notes & understands: I in-&-exhale long!2: Breathing in short, he knows, notes & understands: I in-&-exhale short! 3: He trains thus: Experiencing this entire body, I will breathe in-&out! 4: He trains thus: Calming all bodily activity, I will breathe in-&out!5: He trains thus: Experiencing enraptured joy, I will breathe in-&out!6: He trains thus: Experiencing a happy pleasure, I will breathe in-&out!7: He trains thus: Experiencing all mental activity, I will breathe in-&out!8: He trains thus: Calming all mental activity, I will breathe in-&out!9: He trains thus: Experiencing the present mood, I will breathe in-&out! 10: He trains thus: Elating & gladdening the mind, I will breathe in-&out!11: He trains thus: Concentrating & focusing mind, I will breathe in-&out!12: He trains thus: Releasing, & liberating the mind, I will breathe in-&out!13: He trains thus: Considering impermanence, I will breathe in-&out!14: He trains thus: Considering disillusion, I will breathe in-&out! 15: He trains thus: Considering ceasing, I will breathe in-&out!16: He trains thus: Considering relinquishment, I will breathe in-&out!Having learnt and memorized these 16 simple steps from the Blessed One, the Venerable Ananda went to the Venerable Girimananda and recited these to him. Then as soon as Venerable Girimananda heard these 16 simple steps & the ten experiences his illness instantly subsided & he rose from his bed!This was thus the way Venerable Girimananda was cured from his sickness....

At Savatthi the Blessed Buddha once said to his monks:I will teach you the Unconstructed, Unconditioned & Uncreated State, &the way leading to this unconstructed, unconditioned & uncreated state...Listen & pay attention to that, which will lead you to lasting happiness!And what, is this unconstructed, unconditioned and uncreated state? The elimination of greed, the stilling of hate, & the absence of ignorance: This is the unconstructed, unconditioned & uncreated state of Nibbana...And what is the good way leading to this unconstructed, unconditioned & uncreated state?

Awareness of the body as a collection of organs is a way to unconstruct...The four foundations of awareness is a way to this uncreated dimension...Serene calm and profound insight is a way to this unconditioned sphere...Concentrated directed thought & sustained examination is such a way...Absorption into emptiness, signlessness, and into the uninclined is a way...The four right efforts is a way to this unconditional state...The four roads to force is a way to this unchanging state...The five pure abilities is a way to this unfailing state...The five pure powers is a way to this undecaying state...The seven links to awakening is a way to this deathless state...The Noble 8-fold Way is a way to this immaculate state...

These are the only ways leading to the unconstructed, unconditioned and uncreated state. Bhikkhus, I have now taught you the unconstructed, theunconditioned, the uncreated, and the way leading to this unconstructed, unconditioned & uncreated state. Whatever should be done, bhikkhus, by a considerate teacher out of sympathy for his disciples, wishing their solewelfare, that I have now done for you. There are roots of trees, bhikkhus, there are empty huts. Meditate, do not neglect your meditation, bhikkhus, since you will bitterly regret it later! This is our instruction to you all...

The Blessed Buddha once explained:How is the release of mind by infinite mutual joy (Mudita) achieved? What does this liberation have as its destination, what is its culmination, what is its sweet fruit, and what is the ultimate goal of mental release by universally mutual, unselfish, altruistic, appreciative & rejoicing joy? Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu dwells pervading the frontal quadrant with a mind imbued with infinite mutual joy, so the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quadrant. As above, so below, across, and everywhere to all beings as for himself, he dwells pervading the entire cosmos with a mind fully saturated withunlimited mutual joy, immense, exalted, measureless, without hostility, without any enmity, without any trace of ill will, of jealousy or of envy! Thus prepared and mentally quite expanded, he then develops: 1: The Awareness Link to Awakening joined with limitless mutual joy.2: The Investigation Link to Awakening fused with such mutual joy.3: The Energy Link to Awakening together with infinite mutual joy.4: The Joy Link to Awakening accompanied with absolute mutual joy.5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening linked with noble mutual joy.6: The Concentration Link to Awakening associated with mutual joy.7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening joined with endless mutual joy.Based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and culminating in release...

If he then wishes: May I dwell experiencing repulsion by any attractive & tempting object, then he can dwell experiencing repulsiveness therein. If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in any disgusting and repulsive object, then he experiences pleasing beauty in whatever disgusting & ugly thing! If he wishes: Avoiding both the repulsive & the unrepulsive, may I dwell in equanimity, just aware & clearly comprehending, then he experiences equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending! When meditating hecan completely transcend the realm of infinitude of space, only aware that consciousness is infinite, he can enter and dwell in the sphere of the infinitude of consciousness.. I tell you Bhikkhus for a quite wise Bhikkhu here, who has not yet penetrated to an even more superior mental release, the mental release by infinite, altruistic and mutual joy has the sphere of the infinitude of consciousness as its culmination!

Comments: Are you Discontent? Here is Why!Mutual joy is the proximate cause of contentment. Consequentially: Lack of mutual joy produces frustrated discontent!Mutual joy also eliminates jealousy and envy! Absence of mutual joytherefore induces the acid like mental pain called envy and jealousy!

Source of reference (edited extract): The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikaya.Book [V: 115-21] 46: The Links. 54: Joined by Friendliness...

Giving is the prime cause of Wealth!No giving = no wealth, much giving = much future wealth!

Giving Food, one gives and later gets Strength!Giving Clothes, one gives and later gets Beauty!Giving Medicine, one gives and later gets Health!Giving Shelter, one gives and later gets Protection!Giving Transport, one gives and later gets Swift Ease!Giving Lamps, one gives and later gets Light and Sight!Giving Learning, one gives and later gets Intelligence!Giving True Dhamma, one gives & later gets Deathlessness!Thus this gift of True Dhamma exceeds all other gifts...

More on Metta (Friendliness) Meditation:What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Metta.htmWhat-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Hey_Friend.htmWhat-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Mothers_Love.htmWhat-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Kalyanamitta.htmWhat-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Unique_Unity.htmWhat-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Loving-Kindness.htmWhat-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Calm_Kindness.htmWhat-Buddha-Said.net/drops/V/Across_Borders.htmWhat-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Safe_Medicine.htmWhat-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Friendliness_Frees.htm

Some Water filter insets are urgently needed!So not to get re-infected with bilharzia liver-worms again! are some water filter insets needed for purification of the water here. Advantageous Donations for this Noble purpose are welcome here:

Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Exalted One was dwelling at the monastery of Anathapindika, in Jeta’s grove, near Savatthi. Now when the night was far spent a certain deity, whose surpassing radiance illuminated the entire Jeta Grove, came to the presence of the Exalted One. Afterdrawing near, he respectfully saluted Him and stood at one side. Standing thus, he addressed the Exalted One in verse:Many deities and men wishing to know what is good, have pondered on theblessings and auspicious signs of luck. Tell me what is the highest blessing?What is the best protection?

The Blessed Buddha responded:Not to associate with fools, but only with the wise. To honour only those who are worthy of honour. This is the highest blessing & also the best protection.

To live in a suitable place, to have done merits in the past, and to set oneself on the right path. This is the highest blessing and also the best protection.

Great learning, good skills, a highly trained discipline, and a pleasant speech.This is the highest blessing and also the best protection.

The support of father and mother, the cherishing of wife and children, and a peaceful job. This is the highest blessing and also the best protection.

Generosity, pure morality, the helping of relatives, and blameless behaviour. This is the highest blessing and also the best protection.

To avoid all evil action, to abstain from intoxicants, and firmness in virtue. This is the highest blessing and also the best protection.

Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude & hearing the Dhamma in time. This is the highest blessing and also the best protection.

Patience, respect, sight of calm recluses and suitable conversation in time. This is the highest blessing and also the best protection.

Self-control, living the Noble life, realizing the Noble Truths and Nibbana. This is the highest blessing and also the best protection.

The be unmoved by the 8 worldly conditions # sorrowless, stainless, & safe. This is the highest blessing and also the best protection.

Having fulfilled all these requirements, everywhere they are undefeated, everywhere they go in safety, fearing nothing, cooled, calmed and serene...

The entire world is in flames, all the entire world is blazing up in smoke!The entire world is burning, the entire world is decaying and vanishing...But that which does not vanish or burn, which is experienced by the Nobles, where Death has no entry, in that stilled silence mind finds sweet delight.Samyutta Nikaya 1.168

Without sign, unknown, uncertain, is the life here of mortals, demanding,short, tied up with pain and misery. For there's no way by which those who are born will not die. All Beings will surely die even if they become very old!

As a potter's clay vessels, large & small, fired & unfired, all end up broken,so too life heads to death. Young & old, wise & foolish, rich & poor: Everyonecome under the sway of death, all have death as their assured certain end.

Note the hands are taken the Head and Mind that suffers!

For those overcome by death, gone to the other world, father cannot protect son, nor relatives any family. See: Even while relatives are looking & wailing heavily, mortals are one by one led away like dumb cows to the slaughter...

In this way is the world afflicted with aging & death! Knowing this indeedinescapable and unavoidable nature of the world, the enlightened don't evergrieve! You don't know from where the dying came or where he is going...Seeing neither end, you lament uselessly in blind vain.. Helping nobody at all!

If, by lamenting, confused, harming yourself, any good use could be gainedthe prudent would do it as well. But not by weeping & grief do you gain peace of mind. Pain just arises all the more. Your body is hurt. You grow thin, pale,harming yourself by yourself. Not in that folly way, are the dead protected.Lamentations are all in pointless vain.

Not abandoning grief, a person suffers all the more pain. Bewailing one whose time is done, you fall under the sway of grief yourself. Look at others, going along, people arriving in line with their past actions: Falling under the sway of death, beings simply shivers here, for a short unstable waste of a life...

For however they imagine it to be, it always becomes quite other than that!That's a fate of their blinded estrangement. See this evil way of the world...

Even if a person lives a century, or even more, he will be separated from his community, friends & relatives. He leaves his life alone & naked right there!

So, having heard the Arahat, who have subdued all lamentation, seeing thatthe dead is one whose time is done, understanding: "I can't fetch him back."Just as one would extinguish a burning shelter with water, even so does the Enlightened One, intelligent, clever and wise, blow away any arisen sorrow,like a strong wind, a bit of cotton fluff!

Seeking your own happiness, you should pull out your own injuring arrow:All your own lamentation, longing, hoping, hungering producing only sorrow!With arrow pulled out, independent, attaining peace of awareness, all grief is transcended, griefless you are unbound, free, safe, at ease in peace...

The Blessed Buddha once said: And how, Bhikkhus, is the mental release by universal pity achieved? What does this liberation have as its destination, what is its culmination, what is its sweet fruit, and what is the goal of release by universal pity? Here, Bhikkhus, a Bhikkhu dwells pervading the frontal quadrant with a mind imbued with infinite pity, so the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter. As above, so below, across, and everywhere! To all beings and to himself, he dwells pervading the entire universe with a mind saturated with unlimited pity, immense, exalted, vast, measureless, without hostility, without enmity, without any trace of ill will! Thus prepared & expanded he then develops: 1: The Awareness Link to Awakening joined with this limitless pity.2: The Investigation Link to Awakening fused with such vast pity.3: The Energy Link to Awakening together with this infinite pity.4: The Joy Link to Awakening accompanied with this absolute pity.5: The Tranquillity Link to Awakening linked with this spacious pity.6: The Concentration Link to Awakening associated with this great pity.7: The Equanimity Link to Awakening joined with this endless pity.While based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, & culminating in release. If he then wishes: May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in the unrepulsive and tempting, then he can dwell experiencing the repulsive therein. If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in the disgusting and repulsive, then he dwells experiencing pleasing beauty in whatever is disgusting! If he then wishes: May I dwell experiencing the repulsive in what is bothunrepulsive and repulsive, he dwells experiencing repulsive disgust in it. If he wishes: May I dwell experiencing the unrepulsive in what is bothunrepulsive and repulsive, he experiences only excessive beauty in it! If he wishes: Avoiding both the repulsive and the unrepulsive, may I dwell in equanimity, just aware & clearly comprehending, then he dwells in this equanimity, just aware and clearly comprehending. Or else, by completely transcending of all experience of form, fully stilling any perception of allsense-reaction, non attending to any experience of diversity, only aware that space is infinite, he enters and dwells in the infinitude of space... I tell you Bhikkhus, for a wise Bhikkhu here, who has not yet penetrated to an even more superior mental release, this release of mind by infinite pity has the sublime sphere of the infinitude of space as its culmination!

Once in Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this:Bhikkhus, those for whom you have sympathy and who you think should be respected,whether friends or colleagues, relatives or associates, these you should try to explain, convince, and establish in these four factors of stream-entry. What four?You should explain, convince, and establish them in Faith in the Three Jewels thus: Worthy, honourable and perfectly self-Enlightened is the Buddha! Consummated in all...Perfectly formulated is the Dhamma, visible right here and now, immediately effective...Perfectly training is this Noble Sangha community of the Buddha's Noble disciples...

You should explain, convince, and establish them in the saving purity of Morality thus: Any Noble possesses the Morality esteemed by the Noble ones: Unbroken, pure, untorn, unspotted, freeing, praised by the clever, natural, leading to concentration. Why?Bhikkhus, there may be alteration in these four great elements: In the earth element; all solidity, in the water element; all fluidity, in the heat element; all thermal vibration, in the air element; all motion, but there cannot be alteration in the Noble Disciple whopossesses confirmed confidence in the Three Jewels. It always remains impossiblethat such Noble Disciple should be reborn in hell, as animal, as angry demon, or as ghost! Therefore: Those for whom you have sympathy and who you think should be respected,whether friends or colleagues, relatives or associates, these you should try to explain, convince, and establish in these four factors of stream-entry...

Faith is the Seed, the initiator, the Source of the Beginning.Faith is the Hand that takes up all the advantageous states.Faith is the Wealth above all, since it brings real Happiness.Faith is the Jump, since it enables beings to cross the flood.Faith is the Purifier, since it clears contaminating defilements.

The Blessed Buddha often noted contentment as the highest treasure:There is the case where a Bhikkhu is quite content with whatever old robe, quite content with whatever old almsfood, quite content with whatever hut,and quite content with whatever bitter medicine for curing sickness. This Dhamma is for one who is content, not for one who is discontent! Thus was it said. And with reference to exactly this salient contentment with whatever little one has, was this simple, serene modesty well spoken...AN VIII 30

Contentment with whatever little one has!

And how is a Bhikkhu content? Just as a bird, wherever it goes, flies with its wings as its only burden,even so is he content with a single set of robes to protect his body and begged almsfood to pacify his hunger. Wherever he goes, he takes only these few simple necessities as robes, belt, bowl and razor along with him. This is how a Bhikkhu is content... DN 2

There is the case where a Bhikkhu is content with whatever old robe at all, with whatever old almsfood at all, with whatever old hut at all. He speaks in praise of being content with any old requisite at all. He does not, for the sake of any requisite, do anything unsuitable or inappropriate. When not getting any requisites, he is not troubled. When getting requisites, he just uses it withoutbeing attached to it. He is not obsessed, blameless, and seeing the drawbacks and dangers of possessions, he realizes the escape from them. He does not, on account of his contentment with any old requisite at all, exalt himself or disparage others. Thus is he modest, clever, energetic, alert, & acutely aware! This, Bhikkhus, is called a Bhikkhu standing quite firm in the ancient, original lineage of the Noble Ones... AN IV 28

Good are friends, when need arises.Good is contentment with just what one has.Good is merit done well, when life is at the end. Good is the elimination of all Suffering!Dhammapada 331

Solitude is happiness for one who is content,who has heard the Dhamma and clearly understands.Harmlessness is happiness in all worlds!Harmlessness towards all breathing beings.Udana 10

Therefore be capable, upright, and straight,easy to instruct, gentle, and not proud,content and easy to support with little,with few duties, living simple and light,with peaceful abilities, mastering all,modest, and with no greed for support. Do not do even a minor thing that the wise and noble would later criticize. Sutta Nipata I, 8

At that time a girl named Sujata Senani lived in Uruvela. When adult,she prayed before a certain Banyan tree, that she might get a husbandequal to herself in caste and that her firstborn may be a son. Her prayer was successful, since so indeed did it happen. At the full moon day of theVesak month, she rose at early dawn & milked the cows. As soon as new buckets were placed under the cows, their milk poured forth in streams spontaneously all by itself. Seeing this miracle, she knew something special was going on.

Sujata offering the Bodhisatta her milk rice.

Now at that very night the Future Buddha had 5 specific dreams that made him conclude: Certainly, without doubt, today is the very day, I will reach Enlightenment! His 5 colored radiance illuminated the whole tree. Then Sujata came & offered the cooked milk rice in the hands of the Great Being. After that a grass-cutter came going with a bundle of grass just harvested from nearby. He offered the Great Being 8 handfuls of Kusa grass, when he saw that this Sage was a Holy Man. The Future Buddha accepted the grass and proceeded to the foot of the great Bodhi-Tree. Reaching the imperturbable Eastern side, where all Buddhas take their seat, he sat down determined & said to himself: This is indeed the immovable spot where all the Buddhas have planted themselves! This is the very place for destroying the net of desire! Then the Future Buddha turned his back to the trunk and faced East. Right there he then made this mighty decision:

Let just blood & flesh of this body dry up & let skin & sinews fall from the frame of bones. I will not leave this seat before having attained the absolute supreme Enlightenment!

So determined did he seat himself in this unconquerable seat, which not even a 100 strikes of lightning could make him waver from.At this very moment the rebel deity Mara -the Evil One- raised exclaiming:Prince Siddhattha will now pass beyond my power, but I will never allow it!and sounding the Mara's war shout, he prepared his army & went out forbattle. Then Mara said to his militia: This Sakyamuni, son of Suddhodana, is far greater, than any other man, so we will never succeed to fight him up front. We will therefore attack him from behind. Frustrated, being unable even to touch this Wielder of Power even with 9 mighty hurricanes of wind, rain, rocks, weapons, red coals, hot ashes, sand, mud, & darkness Mara somewhat in panic commanded his army: Why do you stand still? Seize, kill & drive away this prince. And Mara yelled: Siddhattha, leave this seat. It is not yours but mine! Hearing this the Well-gone One replied:Mara, neither have you ever fulfilled the 10 perfections to the third degree,nor have you given the 5 great donations. Neither has you striven for insight, nor for the welfare of the world, nor for enlightenment! Therefore does this seat not belong to you, but indeed only and forever to me!Suddenly overpowered by fear Mara's followers fled helter-skelter in all directions. Not two went the same way, but leaving their weapons in a chaos all behind, they fled terrified by panic. Seeing them flee, the great assembly of deities triumphantly shouted: Mara is defeated. Prince Siddhattha has Won! Let us celebrate the Victory! The deities then sang:

The Victory has this illustrious Buddha Won.The Evil One, The End-maker is defeated & done. Thus they jubilantly circled the wisdom throne,the band of nagas singing their praises of the Seer,the flocks of birds singing their praises of the Sage,the assembly of Deities singing their praises of the Conqueror,the group of Brahmas singing their praises of the Worthy One.

It was before the sun had set that the Tathagata thus conquered Mara & defeated his army. Then at the same night, after having bathed, while the Bodhi-Tree rained red sprigs on his robe, the Consummate One acquired knowledge of previous existences in the first watch of the night:With the mind thus concentrated, purified, bright, fixed, unified, focused,tractable, compliant, steady & imperturbable, I directed it to remembrance of my past lives. I recollected numerous past lives, i.e., one birth, two...five, ten...fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand, many eons of cosmic contraction, many eons of cosmic expansion: There I had such a name, belonged to such a clan & species, had sucha body. Such was my food, such my experience of pleasure & pain,such the end of my life. Passing away from that state, I re-arose there.There I had such name, belonged to such a sort & family, had such a form. Such was my food, such my experience of pleasure & pain, such the end of my life. Passing away from that state, I re-arose here. Thus I remembered my various past lives in all their various modes & details.This was the first knowledge I attained in the first watch of the night.Ignorance was destroyed; knowledge arose; darkness was destroyed;light arose as happens in one who is alert, aware, and determined.But the pleasant feeling that arose in this way did not invade my mindnor remain. With the mind thus still concentrated, purified, bright, intact,pliant, malleable, steady, & imperturbable, I directed it to the knowledge of the passing away & reappearance of beings. I saw by means of the divine eye, purified & surpassing the human eye I saw beings passing away & re-appearing, and I realized how & why they are high & low, beautiful & ugly, fortunate & unfortunate all in accordance with the intentions of their prior actions: 'These beings who were endowed with bad behavior of body, speech, & mind, who reviled the Noble Ones, held wrong views and acted under the influence of wrong views, with the break-up of the body, after death, have re-appeared in the plane of misery, the bad destinations, the lower realms, even in the hells. But these beings, who were gifted with good behavior of body, speech & mind, who did not revile the Noble Ones, who held right views and acted under the influence of right views, with the break-up of the body, after death, have re-appeared in happy destinations, even in a divine world.' Thus -- by means of the divine eye, purified & surpassing the human -- I saw beings passing away & re-appearing, all in accordance with their particular mixture of good & bad kamma. But the satisfaction that arose in this way did not invade my mind nor didit remain. With the mind thus concentrated, fully absorbed, I directed it towards understanding the stilling of all the mental fermentations. Then I realized how it actually comes to be, that:

Such is Misery... Such is the Cause of Misery... Such is the End of Misery... Such is the Way to End Misery...

Such is the mental fermentations...Such is the cause of mental fermentation...Such is the end of mental fermentation...Such is the way leading to the end of mental fermentation...!

When my mind saw that, realized that, it was freed of the fermentation of sense-desire, released from the fermentation of becoming, unobstructed by the fermentation of ignorance. Fully & Perfectly Enlightened - The Buddha - perceiving this immense glory, spoke these 2 solemn verses, which never has been omitted by any of countless thousands of prior Buddhas:

Through this round of countless existences have I searchedyet failed to find 'the Creator', who framed this formation:What Misery! is such Endless Birth, Ageing, Decay & Death!!

Now I see that 'the Constructor' of this structure is Craving...!!!Never shall this construction be build again, as all the raftersare shattered and the main beam is busted & fully broken...At this stilling of all Craving, mind has finally found calm…

Then, friends, this vision of certainty then arose in me: This release is irreversible, this is the last rebirth, this endless reappearance has finally ended...

Once in Savatthi the Blessed Buddha said this: Bhikkhus, train and develop concentration! Any Bhikkhu, who is concentrated understands things as they really are and as they really become! How?1: He understands as it really is: This and such is Suffering, 2: He understands as it really is: This and such is the Cause of Suffering, 3: He understands as it really is: This and such is the Ceasing of Suffering, 4: He understands as it really is: This is the Way leading to the End of Suffering!Bhikkhus, develop concentration! A Bhikkhu, who is concentrated understandsnot only the appearance, but things as they really are and as they really become!Therefore, Bhikkhus, an effort should be made to comprehensively understand: This is Suffering; This is the Cause of Suffering; This is the End of Suffering; This is the way leading to the End of Suffering... An effort should be made to comprehend, fathom, grasp, understand, and penetrate these Four Noble Truths!

Comments:Those who makes that effort, and understands, shortens this Samsaric round...Those who neglects that effort, and ignores it, prolongs this Samsaric round...